Improved velocipede



J. J. WHITE.

Velocipede.

Patented April 13. 1869.

UN I T E ITS TATE S PATENT OFFICE JOHN J. WVHITE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVED VELOCIPEDE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 88,930, dated April 13, 1869.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN J. WHITE, of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Velocipede and I do hereby declare the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 represents a front elevation of my improved velocipede. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section of the same, taken on the plane of the line 00 00, Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to a new velocipede, which consists entirely of two wheels and their connecting-axles, the axles supporting a frame in which the seat and drivinggear are arranged, so that they can be conveniently operated. The wheels can, with this arrangement, be made very large, to obtain great velocity, and the whole apparatus can be made light and convenient.

The invention consists in the general arran gement of the apparatus, and, furthermore, in the special arrangement of a hinged seat which can be swung down when on going uphill the rider desires to leave the seatand Walk with the vehicle.

The invention also consists in the applica tion of convenient brakes, by means of which the instrument can be conveniently stopped and steered.

A A in the drawing represent two wheels, of seven (more or less) feet in diameter, constructed in suitable manner of metal, wood, or other suitable material. Each of these wheels is mounted on a short axle, B, the two axles having their bearings in a frame, 0, so that they are in line, but some distance apart, as is clearly shown in Fig. 1.

The frame 0 consists of two pairs of vertical bars, a a, which hold the bearings for the axles, and which are at their upper ends 0011- nected by a horizontal bar, I), while a-frame, D, of rectangular or other form, connects their lower ends, as shown, or at least those of the two inner bars a.

The frame D is open in the middle, and has a seat, E, hinged to its rear, so that the front end of the seat may be hooked or otherwise fastened to the front part of the frame, as in Fig. 2.

The rider straddles the seat, as shown, and passes his legs through the frame D, and when, in going uphill, he is unable to ascend, he may swing his seat down and stand and walk on the ground and in the frame D.

The frame D is up and down adjustable on the bars a, so as to adapt the height of the seat to larger or smaller persons.

A crank, c, is secured to the inner end of each axle B, and from the end of each crank is, by means of a rod, d, suspended a stirrup, F, as shown. The rider has his feet in the stirrups, and propels the vehicle by working the feet up and down.

G G are two levers, pivoted respectively to the inner bars, a a, and connected with the cranks c, as shown. Each of these levers G has a handle, 6, attached to it.

The rider may lay his arms around the in ner bars, a, and take hold of the handle 6, as shown, so that he may, by means of his hands, aid in the propulsion of the instrument and i steadying the motion imparted by the feet.

f f are two pulleys or friction-wheels, mounted on the axles B B, respectively; and g g,

two levers, pivoted to the bars a, respectively, above the pulleys f. A spring, h, or its equivalent, holds each lever g up away from the wheel f. The arms of the rider are above the levers g.

By a downward movement of an arm a le ver, y, can be pressed upon the pulley f, and will then act as a brake, to prevent the wheel with which it is connected from turning. By this means the instrument can be conveniently stopped and steered.

The neck of the driver rests against the upper bar, I), which is hollowed for its reception, and which can be adjusted up and down on the bars a, to be adapted to the size of the rider.

For lightness, the suspensory principle is adopted to connect the axle of the wheel with its circumference by Wires or other suitable material or device, though not excluding the ordinary mode of spokes. The upright bars a a may also be joined on each side by curving the upper part of the outer one and attaching it to the inner bar below the horizontal bar 1), thereby shortening the latter, so that it need only connect the inner upright bars.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is-

1. The arrangement of the frame 0, which connects the two axles B of the wheels A, said frame consisting of the upright bars a a, horizontal bar I), and frame D, all arranged substantially as set forth, the parts I) and D being up and down adjustable, as set forth.

2. In a two-wheeled velooipede, the hinged 0, and connected with the cranks c, as speci- 4. The wheels f, mounted on the axles B, when combined with the levers g, in the manner specified.

JNO. J. WHITE.

Witnesses:

EDw. H. WILLIAMsoN, R. S. WHITE. 

